from staff reports

It’s a pretty simple formula for the Calvary Christian School baseball team: With each win from here on out — the Cougars are making history.

That was the case Thursday night, when Calvary went to Winona Christian School and blasted the Stars 15-2 to complete their first-ever series win in the MPSA Class A state playoffs.

Calvary, which pulled out a miracle 7-6 win Tuesday in the best-of-three series, completed the sweep Thursday in convincing fashion on the road.

The Cougars erased a 1-0 deficit with three runs in the third, but were just getting cranked up as they scored four times in the fourth and six times in the fifth. Every Calvary starter had at least one hit.

“We’ve never had that happen,” head coach Jerry Dean said.

Stephen Hudson was 2-for-2 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs to lead the way while Jeremy Mathis had two singles, a double and an RBI.

Trey Chapman had one hit and three RBIs; Jacob Mathis had two hits and two RBIs; Jonathan Bartlett had a single, double and one RBI; Kyle Koch had two hits and one RBI; Josh Crane had one hit and one RBI; and Trey Fox and Justin Sylvester had one hit apiece.

The win improved Calvary to 20-6 on the year — the first 20-win campaign in the four-year program’s history.

On the hill, Fox picked up the win after earning a save in Game 1 of the series. Thursday, he went all six innings of the rout-shortened victory, striking out eight while walking one and allowing just one hit.

The Cougars will now square off against Deer Creek in a second-round, best-of-three playoff series beginning Monday. Calvary hosts Game 1 at Q.V. Sykes at 5 p.m., then travels to Deer Creek for Game 2 Tuesday.

— Rocky Higginbotham



Clarkdale 9

Wesson 2



The Bulldogs scored at least twice in four different innings and coasted to a win in Game 1 of their second-round, MHSAA Class 2A state playoff series at Wesson.

Clarkdale, now 19-8 on the year, will host Wesson in Game 2 tonight at 6 p.m.

Thursday, the Bulldogs scored twice in the top of the second inning and never trailed. Clarkdale added three runs in the fourth and two each in the fifth and seventh frames.

Casey Hinton was 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs, while Matt Thornhill was 3-for-4 to lead the Bulldogs. Justin McMillan, Dillon Boatner and Clark Boatner all had one hit and two RBIs.

On the mound, Davey Knight (6-2) got the win in a complete-game effort. He struck out seven, scattered eight hits and walked just one.

— Rocky Higginbotham



Lake 12

St. Patrick 7



The Hornets overcame a horrific start to knock off host St. Patrick in Game 1 of their best-of-three, second-round Class 2A playoff series.

Lake improved to 20-7 overall while St. Patrick fell to 20-11. The Hornets host Game 2 in Lake tonight at 6 p.m.

Thursday, St. Patrick jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and was up 7-2 after two. But Lake scored three times in the third and once in the fifth, then took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the sixth.

Sam Wooten and David Murray each homered for the Hornets, and Wooten finished with two hits while Marcus Ricks was 3-for-4 with two doubles.

Cody Taylor also had three hits including a double for Lake, while Dwayne Gammage and Spencer Cash both had two hits.

Gammage (8-3) threw 6.2 innings of relief to earn the win on the hill.

— Rocky Higginbotham



Newton County 21

Purvis 9



The Cougars put up 18 runs in the second inning of their 21-9 rout of Purvis in Game 1 of the Class 3A second-round series at Decatur.

In the big inning, Newton County had 13 hits. The Cougars only led 3-2 going into the bottom of the second, but were up 21-2 by the time Purvis could record the third out.

Tyler Davis (7-3) tossed 2.2 innings to get the win. He allowed two hits and six walks to go with three strikeouts.

Cole Harris had five strikeouts and gave up one hit in 2.1 innings of relief.

Davis also had a big night at the plate as he had three singles and four RBIs. Harris also had three singles and drove in five runs as the Cougars improved to 25-6.

Tyler Robinson, whose triple led off the second inning, also had two singles and two RBIs. Jose Acosta had three singles and drove in a pair of runs.

Tyler Laird had two singles and two RBIs. Jeremy May had one single and two RBIs, while Drew Wilson had one single.

Purvis, 17-9, took advantage of six walks and one hit batsman to pick up seven runs in the top of the third to close to within 21-9.

The Tornadoes got one single each from losing pitcher Tyler Barham, Chris Pylant, and Jason Stuart.

Game 2 is set for 6 p.m. tonight at Purvis.

— Marty Stamper



Lamar School 10

Presbyterian 6



The Raiders scored seven times in the bottom of the sixth inning to break open a tight contest and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Lamar scored twice in the third to go up 2-0, but was down 4-3 before erupting for seven in the sixth and holding off PCS for the victory. Now 14-10 on the season, the Raiders can clinch a spot in the MPSA Class AAA state playoffs by sweeping East Rankin Academy next week.

In the decisive seventh inning, Andrew Harrison had a two-run triple, Andrew Watkins had a two-run single and Drake Nosco had an RBI single for Lamar.

Nosco finished with four hits and three runs scored for the Raiders, while Watkins had a single, double and four RBIs. Witt Haggard also had a double and one RBI.

Haggard (5-3) also got the win in relief, his second in the series.

— Rocky Higginbotham



PREP SOFTBALL

Central Academy 18

Immanuel Christian 1



The Lady Vikings scored 10 times in the first inning and never looked back in a 17-run romp at Immanuel Thursday.

Central, which improved to 15-3 on the season, was up 15-1 after two innings and added three more runs in the third.

Corey Dawkins homered and tripled and Alex Dawkins homered and doubled to lead the Lady Vikings.

Hannah Martin, Veronica Rodriguez and Julianna Persons all had two hits, while Blake Rigdon, Megan Banks, Layne Reed and Lillian Lindsey had one hit apiece.

Marion Colvin (14-3) was the winning pitcher.

Bailey Edwards had one hit for Immanuel.

Central returns to action Tuesday at 5:30 with a contest against rival Kemper Academy at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba.

— Rocky Higginbotham



LATE PREP TRACK

MHS boys finish third

in Region 3-5A Meet



Meridian High School’s boys’ track team finished third in Wednesday’s Region 3-5A Meet in Hattiesburg.

Carson Blanks continued his torrid pace this spring by winning both the 110m and 300m hurdles. Blanks also qualified for the Class 5A South State Meet by finishing second in the triple jump.

All three MHS relay squads also qualified. Blanks, Sherron Hill, Robert Handley and Jacobie Naylor were second in the 4x400m race; while Handley, Naylor, Deon Felder and Joderric Grice were second in the 4x200m event.

The 4x100m team of Felder, Handley, Khiry Warren and Andrew Brewster was third.

Other MHS participants who qualified for the South State meet were Naylor (third in 110m hurdles and second in the 300m hurdles); Grice (fourth in the 100m dash); Temarcus Jenkins (fourth in the 1600m run); Brewster (fourth in the 400m run); and Elijah Tanksley (second in the shot put and fourth in the high jump).

The South State Meet is slated for May 3 in Gulfport.

— Rocky Higginbotham



LATE PREP GOLF

West Lauderdale wins

Division 5-4A tourney



West Lauderdale fired a team total of 353 to capture first place in the Division 5-4A Tournament held earlier this week.

Quitman was second with a team score of 362 and was followed by Northeast Jones (370), Wayne County (389), Laurel (393) and Northeast Lauderdale (503).

Dustin Parker of Quitman was the tournament medalist after shooting an 80, while West Lauderdale’s top score was an 87 by Wills Scarbrough. Northeast Lauderdale was led by Jake Courtney’s 127.

— Rocky Higginbotham